Soccer-Jets midfielder Bayliss eyes New Zealand debut and World Cup chance

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE, March 18 (Reuters) - A footballing career forged in Australia's tropical north will reach a high point for Lachlan Bayliss in Auckland next week as the Newcastle Jets midfielder reports for his first New Zealand camp with an eye to break into Darren Bazeley's World Cup squad.

The 23-year-old was born in Sydney, raised in the steamy northern port of Darwin and is an Australian Rules football fan without a hint of a Kiwi accent.

But Bayliss threw in his lot with his late father's homeland a few years ago and earned a surprise spot on New Zealand's Paris Olympics squad.

Getting a maiden call-up for Bazeley's senior squad is another pleasant surprise for Bayliss who will push for selection in World Cup warmups against Finland next week and Chile a few days later at Eden Park.

"It was sort of out of the blue because I haven't been called up for any camps," Bayliss told Reuters of his selection on Wednesday.

"Although I'd been playing well, I was hoping I'd done enough to be invited to the camp and, thankfully, I had, but it's still a surprise and a shock, nonetheless."

Bayliss may not be giving himself quite enough credit, having been a relevation during the Jets' stunning rise to the top of the A-League table this season.

The former Central Coast Mariners academy prospect netted five goals in a five-match burst in January and February and is in career-best form in his third season at the Jets.

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With New Zealand missing their captain and all-time top goal-scorer Chris Wood due to a long-term knee injury, Bazeley may hope Bayliss can add another dimension to their attack in the World Cup warmups.

Bayliss is certainly feeling more confident in his boots since being given licence to go forward for a Jets side with comfortably the most potent attack in the A-League.

"It's been more of a positional shift. Throughout my first 50 or so A-League games, I've been playing a lot deeper than I probably have in my younger career," he said.

"I definitely regard myself as more of an attacking midfielder, but I think I'm a very versatile player who can do a job in a number of positions, which is probably why I've been shifted around so much.

"Like I've had games at right back, defensive midfielder, wing, striker.

"So, yeah, I think it's that solidity and playing attacking midfielder, having a number of games there in a row that helped me to reach that form that I've been in at the moment."

Bayliss has shown a gift for timing on field and off to earn his New Zealand chance only months out from the All Whites' return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010.

New Zealand are pooled with Iran, Belgium and Egypt, though Iran's participation is under a cloud following the United States-Israel attacks on the Middle Eastern nation.

His birth nation Australia will also feature at the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Bayliss's midfielder brother James also played A-League football for Australia's Central Coast but is now in New Zealand playing for Auckland FC in a new Oceania-based league.

Bayliss said he never had discussions with Australia's international coaches since junior levels and will be proud to wear New Zealand's silver fern on his chest.

"It's definitely nice that I have a good connection to both countries. A lot of people try and just make you decide to pick one or the other," he said.

"(I'm) just grateful I got my passport and wish I'd gotten it sooner, honestly."